Chrysler redesigned its mid-size cars, the B-bodies, in 1971, giving them a fuselage shape. And the hoods got longer, and the deck lids got shorter. The Charger was the only mid-size 2-door hardtop at that point (excluding the Super Bee), as the Coronet was relegated to sedans and wagons. The seller has/had a 1971 Charger for sale but also thinks it could be a 1970 (it belonged to his father). The car appears to have been sitting in the woods forever and will need tons of work. If it’s still available here on Facebook Marketplace and in Atlanta, Georgia, the pics are few, as is the data, and the asking price is $20,000. Moparman brought this tip our way.
Charger sales increased by 25% in 1971 over 1970, but ’70 had been a down year as the car was in its third year of a design. V8 engines were standard in the Charger, and anything from a 318 cubic incher to 440 could be under the hood of the seller’s car (we’re not told and no pics). 1971 would be the last year for the 440 6-Pack and the Hemi, and the cars were being detuned to run on unleaded fuel. The glory days of the Charger were mostly in the rear-view mirror.
This car belonged to the seller’s dad, so it may be part of an estate sale. It’s been idle for at least eight years and out in the elements, so corrosion and general deterioration have taken over. What we see of the interior is not encouraging. This might better serve as a parts car, but will anyone spend $20k on a donor? And if you decide to restore it, you’re going to need some deep pockets to pull it off. What advice would you offer the seller to find a buyer?
Unless it’s an oddball date carry-over kind of thing, a ’70 Charger is a 2nd gen and is a totally different beast…
It’s not, and there is no such thing.
Nicely optioned car, I hope it can be saved, but it could easily be hopelessly rotted from sitting. I hope it finds a good home, that sunroof, power windows and cruise control are rare. God only knows what engine it has, since he couldn’t be bothered opeing the hood. Maybe the VIN can be decoded.
From what I can see from blurry door VIN tag it appears to be a 1971 Dodge Charger Special Edition (SE) equipped with a high-performance (U-code) 440 cubic-inch Magnum V8 engine, assembled at the Lynch Road, Michigan plant.
Making it quite a rare piece with the sunroof and if you check the interior, that’s a console mounted factory cassette deck. Car appears to be fully loaded, nice find.
The glory days of this car are far back in the rear view mirror, and so is the seller’s sanity if he thinks he can get $20k for this poorly photographed, poorly described and rusted out lump.
Way overpriced. Seller has sentimental attachment, it seems like they haven’t done their research and/or have been given bad advice.
Steve R
$20k? They’ll be lucky to get $2k based on the condition this one’s in. And it’s most definitely a ’71. A late ’70 build date does not make it a ’70. Looks like the seller needs to go do some more research before amending the listing.
well we are in agreement that its a 71 and the seller put to many zeros in the selling price
The first few codes on the door jamb sticker look like a WP29U1A, meaning a ’71 Charger SE with a 440 magnum, which would be quite unusual. One of 587 with an automatic.
…but it’s actually the sunroof that makes it rare. Quick web search says about 150 SEs so equipped, so the 440 mag/sunroof combo might be a couple dozen or so.
Thanks for the research.
Depending on the cars condition, which can’t be accurately assessed due to the horrible ad, it is more valuable than most people think. The seller was either lucky or smart to put a picture of door jamb sticker in the ad.
Serious potential buyers will make the time to see it in person.
Steve R
This car, apparently with all or almost every option, it’s a shame if it is too far gone. I find it mind boggling when people let cars sit outside for decades, with the delusion that they’ll eventually do something with it, other than sweep up what’s left. Or, leave it to other to sweep up what’s left.
With that roofline and a build date of 11/70, it should be a 1971.
It is.
Hard pass at 20 large. It’s literally in the 2-5 thousand range.
Even if it was built in 1970, it’s still a 1971. Our 1970 Cuda 340 was built in late November of 69
Way over priced and it’s in need of a complete restoration. Nah, I’ll pass. That’s a 3-4 year project and thousands of dollars worth of parts and expensive labor
The 5th character of the VIn being a U indicates this as a 440 powered car. Now is the original still there? Is there even a big block under the hood or at some point in its life did a small block make its way under the hood. For a $20k ask the seller needs to show it.
I certainly do not think it will even draw close to the asking price. My personal favorite generation of the Charger. I’ve had 2 of them. No, I strongly do not think it will bring asking or even close. That said, the I mentioned along with a few other cars. Asking prices have gotten incredibly stupid
If this is optioned out as described above, the bad ad and crazy price is an advantage to anyone serious enough to go and have a look. Not many people will bother, so throwing a wad of cash at the young guy you can see in the video will probably buy you the car for a lot lower.
Steve R.
Thank you again for your pointless opinion on old Mopars. You should be careful about your derogatory comments. The Mopar community has it out for you. You are best suited commenting on the Yugos you hold dear to your……..
Nothing Steve R. said was derogatory to the Mopar community. He was simply pointing out that the seller seller is pretty naive as to what they are trying to sell, and has done a poor job of advertising it. All of them very valid observations.
I see nothing in his comments, Mopar fans included, that should be offensive to anyone, except maybe the seller